mcclure



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. B. MOOLURE."

BUUKLE.

No. 519,545. PatentedMay 8, 1894.

THE manure LITNOGHAPHING COMPANY.

(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. E. MOCLURE. BUCKLE.

Patented May 8 UNITED STATES ALBERT E. MOGLURE, OF SEDALIA, MISSOURI,ASSIGNOR TO THE MOOLURE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BUCKLE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,545, dated May 8,1894.

Application filed July 11, 1893. Serial No. 4:80| 3- (N model To 60%whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. MOOLURE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sedalia, in the county of Pettis and State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of buckles in which retaining teethor tongues are dispensed withand which embody a base plate having anopening or bar and carrying an upper member or plate pivotally mountedupon the base plate and provided with a cross bar operating in'conjunction with the opening or bar of the base plate.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and improved buckle ofthe above described class, which will possess advantages in point ofextreme simplicity and inexpensiveness in construction, easeand facilityin t, for the same.

operation, durability, effectiveness, and general efficiency, and inwhich accidental disengagement of the strap or band from securedposition in the buckle is obviated.

In the drawings:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved buckleembodying my invention, the strap being shown in secured position. Fig.2 is a central longitudinal sectional view, through Fig. 1. .Fig. 3 is aperspeotive view of the buckle. Figs.'4, 5, and 6, are detail viewsillustrating the construction and operation of the pivotal lockingconnection between the upper pivoted link and the main link. Fig. 7 is aperspective view illustrating a double form of my improved buckle,showing the band in position. Fig. 8 is a central sectional view, takenthrough Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the double form ofbuckle. Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a modification orvariation in the contour of the upper link and the lugs forming thepivotal locking connection Fig. 11 is a detail rear view of theconstruction shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view ofmy improved buckle, showing (in dotted lines) a loop extending from thefront end of the main link. Fig. 13 is a corresponding view, showing (indotted lines) a hook extending from the front end of the under link.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same lettersof reference.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the main or under link, which isof open or skeleton form, preferably rectangular in contour,

comprising the side bars a a, the front bar a. and the rear bar a Y Bdesignates the upper pivoted link or member, whichis also of open orskeleton form and comprises a cross bar, 12, adapted to operate inconjunction with the front cross bar a, of the under link. The link 13also embodies an outer projecting portion B forming a free lifting endand rearwardly projecting arms, b b, extending from the cross bar I) andhaving outwardly turned ends, 12 forming gudgeons or pivots by which theupper link is pivotally mounted upon the under link. The rearwardlyprojecting arms b b are spring arms capable of spring movementsubstantially as hereinafter set forth.

In the side bars a a of the under link, preferably at about the centerof the same, are formed bearing eyes, a a adapted to receive the ends orgudgeons 6 These eyes are preferably formed by bending down the outerportion of the sidebars, as shown at at, and turning up the innerportion of the side bars to form inwardly projecting lugs, a a havingshoulders or recesses, a at their front and rear sides. The bearing endsof the spring arms I) are sprung into the eyes a and the arms normallyrest under one of the recesses or shoulders 01., the upper link is thuslocked in position. When the upper link is lifted, the spring arms I)ride over the shoulder a and are sprung inwardly by contact with theside of the proj ecting lug 0. from which position the upper plate canbe automatically sprung down into locked position. The form of pivotalspring connection between the upper link and under link as abovedescribed provides a fiat joint presenting vno material outwardprojection, and the inwardly projecting lugs a are formed inside theunder link,by which arrangement economy in metal is eifected. A securingstrap orband, as shown at O,-may be engaged with the rear bars a of theunder link, to secure the buckle in position.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.The free end of the strap or band, S, to be secured by the buckle, ispassed upwardly through the main link A in rear of the cross bar I) ofthe upper link, thence over the cross bar I) and downwardly in rear ofthe front cross bar a of the main link, in which position it will bindsecurely the cross bars I) and a and be secured in position by its owntension. After the free end of the strap S is secured in the buckle, itcan be carried upwardly over the front projecting portion B of the upper'ink, then across the face of the upper link, and then passed downwardlythrough the main link. A, so that only the face or front ofi the strapis exposed to view, this arrangement being clearly illustrated in Figs.1 and 2, It will be noted that the rearwardly projecting spring arms I)are preferably bent or curved downwardly to the plane of the eyes oropenings a the latter being at about the center of the vertical diameterof the side bars a a, whereby a fiat compact buckle is produced.

Myimproved buckle may be made in double form especially adapted forbelts or the like, as illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings.In this double form the securing strap 0 is dispensed with, and theunder or main link is extended to a suitable width and provided withpivotal lockin g connections for two upper links, which latter projectrespectively in opposite directions. The free ends of the band or strapS forming a belt may thus be secured by their respective upper links atboth sides the buckle, and all sewing or permanent attachment of theband or strap to the buckle is thus entirely obviated. In this doubleconstruction, the under link may be braced, if desired, by a centralcross bar, D, and a faceplate or suitable design, as indicated in dottedlines in Figs. 7 and 8, may be secured to the buckle. In Figs. 10 and11, I have illustrated a modification or slight variation inconstruction, in which the projecting portion B of the upper link isrounded, as shown at e, and the locking pivotal connection is formed bytwo upwardly projecting lugs, 01, a struck up from the inner portion ofthe main link and having their inner faces provided with the shoulder orrecess a. In this construction,

the rearwardly projecting spring arms I) are not turned or bentdownwardly, inasmuch as the eyes or bearings for the same are on a planeabove the top surface of the under link. The construction embodied inthis modification is especially strong and durable, but does not provideas flat and compact a buckle as that above described.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact detailconstruction and arrangement of parts as herein shown and specified, asit is manifest numerous variations in the detail features andconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations ormodifications in construction as properly fall within the terms andscope of the following claims.

In Figs. 12 and 13 I have shown in dotted lines a loop and hookextending from the front end of the main link, either of whichconstructions may under some circumstances be employed to adapt thebuckle for use or attachment in connection with suspenders.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent-- 1. An improved buckle, comprising the under link ormember having the cross-bar a and provided with bearing eyes or openingsin rear of said cross-bar and with looking devices adjacent to saidbearings, and the upper link or member having the cross-bar b operatingin conjunction with the cross-bar co and provided with spring armsprojecting rearwardly from said cross-bar I), mounted in said bearings,and engaging the locking devices, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein described improved buckle, comprising the under link ormember, A, provided with the bearing eyes or openings, a and theprojecting lugs, a having the shoulders or recesses, a; and the upperlink or member, B, having the cross-bar, b, and the projecting springarms, 6, provided with the gudgeons or ends entering the openings a andbearing against the recessed or shouldered lugs, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

8. The herein described improved buckle, comprising the under link ormember A having the side bars ct provided with the eyes or openings aformed by the downwardly bent portions a and the projecting lugs aformed with recesses or shoulders at, and the upper link' or member Bhaving the projecting portion B forming a free lifting end and providedwith the cross bar I) and the rearwardly projecting spring arms I)having the ends or gudgeons entering the openings a? and engaging therecessed and shouldered lugs 5 substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT E. MCCLURE.

Witnesses:

R. H. MOSES, R. F. HARRIS.

